Valmiki Ramayana 6.16.7 — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 16, Shloka 7
विभीषणोपदेशे रावणस्य परुषवाक्यम्
Ravana’s Harsh Reply to Vibhishana’s Counsel
नाग्निर्नान्यानिशस्त्राणिननःपाशाभयावहाः ।घोरास्स्वार्थप्रयुक्तास्तुज्ञातयोनोभयावहाः ।।।।
nāgnir nānyāni śastrāṇi na naḥ pāśā bhayāvahāḥ |
ghorāḥ svārtha-prayuktās tu jñātayo no bhayāvahāḥ ||
ليس النارُ ولا سائرُ السلاح ولا الحبالُ المقيِّدةُ مما يُفزعنا حقًّا؛ بل إنّ الأقاربَ الذين تحرّكهم المصلحةُ الذاتية—وهم أفظعُ ما يكونون في أنانيتهم—هم المخوفون.
"O Rakshasa! Relatives will insult and disapprove their chief even if he is an accomplished one, a virtuous one or a heroic one and does his duty (as a ruler)."
FAQs
Dharma cautions that inner moral corruption (selfishness) can be more dangerous than external threats; ethical vigilance begins within one’s own circle.
Through a proverb, Vibhīṣaṇa stresses to Rāvaṇa that the greatest danger may come from self-serving insiders, not enemy weapons.
Discernment (viveka) and realism in moral judgment.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Valmiki Ramayana in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.